Tufts
Institute of the Environment
Environmental Graduate Student Fellowships
Request for Proposals 2008
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Tufts
Institute of the Environment (TIE) is an interdisciplinary,
university-wide institute which facilitates and coordinates
environmental programs at Tufts University. TIE is devoted
to advancing and disseminating knowledge about the many
ways human interactions affect the environment. TIE focuses
on environmental research, technology, policy development
and education, recognizing the interdependence of human
welfare, animal health, and ecological integrity.
Update
2/11/08: Please see amendment (in bold and underlined)
to the Funding Restrictions section.
Submission
Deadline:
Due
at the TIE office no later than 9 am on Friday, March
14th, 2008.
Electronic submissions via email to tie@tufts.edu are
preferred.
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Grant
Objectives:
1)
To financially support graduate students conducting environmental
research
2) To recognize and provide greater visibility for stellar
graduate students and their work in an environmental field
3) To encourage interdisciplinary graduate level research
in the environment
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Grant
Description:
Matriculated
graduate students at any of Tufts University’s graduate
programs and professional schools are eligible to apply
for designation as TIE Fellows to conduct interdisciplinary
environmental projects. This is an opportunity for students
to receive a stipend for research. TIE Fellows will become
part of the growing group of TIE Scholars: students, research
associates, and visiting faculty members selected for
their ongoing and potential contributions to environmental
research, education, and outreach.
The work completed as a TIE fellow must be part of the
student’s course of study (e.g., an internship,
applied learning experience, directed study, thesis or
dissertation research) and not otherwise possible without
TIE funding. Preference will be given to proposals likely
to result in a publication, particularly at the Ph.D.
level. Master’s candidates are, however, strongly
encouraged to apply. Applicants are encouraged to identify
a faculty member to serve as mentor to the student and
to assist in refining the fellowship proposal. However,
this fellowship is NOT intended to support work on a faculty
member’s ongoing research project. The project should
be initiated and conducted by the student, although it
may link to faculty research. In addition, it should not
be contingent on receipt of other funds by a faculty member
or the student. Applications for research projects involving
more than one student will be considered.
Requirements for the successful completion of
this Environmental Graduate Student Fellowship include
the electronic submission of a poster by April 1, 2009
and a final report by August 31, 2009, as well as a presentation
of the results to the greater Tufts community in late
spring 2009. Acknowledgment of TIE’s
support for research completed during the fellowship must
be provided for any form of dissemination, including but
not limited to publication, poster or oral presentation,
and website posting.
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Evaluation
Criteria:
o The problem or issue addressed is significant and timely
o The approach that the student plans to explore or develop
is original and appropriate to the problem addressed and
includes an interdisciplinary component
o The project relates directly to TIE’s mission
and one or more of the High Priority Areas for Consideration
outlined below
o The student has relevant qualifications
o The budget meets TIE guidelines on expenditures (see
Funding Restrictions below)
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High
Priority Areas for Consideration:
The following areas have been designated as high priority
topic areas in environmental research at Tufts University
by TIE. Preference will be given to proposals falling
under these topic areas, although proposals under other
topics will also be considered.
o Water
o Energy and Climate
o Health and the Environment
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Content
and Form of Proposal Submission:
1)
Cover Page
The
Cover Page contains basic information on the project and
the individual members of the team. Items to be included
are:
o Project title
o Student(s) and faculty advisor departmental and school
affiliations
o Contact information (mailing addresses, telephone numbers,
email addresses)
o Amount of funding requested
o A list of previously awarded TIE grants
o An executive summary (not to exceed 300 words) on the
proposed research, expected accomplishments, and how the
project contributes to the student’s current program
of study.
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2)
Proposal Narrative (not to exceed three pages)
The
Proposal Narrative must include and accurately describe
in detail:
o
The problem or hypothesis to be studied and its significance
o The objectives and the rationale for each
o How the project directly relates to TIE’s mission
and one or more of the High Priority Areas for Consideration
outlined above
o Specific approaches, methodology, and data analysis
to be used to meet the stated objectives
o Anticipated results
o A brief summary of previous research on this topic (include
references)
o A statement of the student's long term educational and
career goals, and how this project contributes to these
goals as well as to the student’s current program
of study
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3)
Proposal Appendices
These
appendices must be included in the grant proposal. Additional
appendices are not permitted.
o
A list of references from the Proposal Narrative
o A Résumé or CV for the student (not to
exceed a single page)
o A current Tufts transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable);
if the student has been
at Tufts less than one year, an official transcript from
their undergraduate study must accompany the proposal
o A detailed budget detailing expenses for the proposed
project
o A statement of other teaching or research stipends or
other fellowships the student has received, or for which
s/he has applied, to fund graduate studies at Tufts
o Two letters of recommendation; at least one of which
is from a Tufts faculty member serving as an advisor,
supervisor or mentor on the project.
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Funding
Restrictions:
TIE Environmental Graduate
Student Fellowship funds will be available starting July
1, 2008 and ending May 31, 2009. TIE will provide up to
$6000 per student based upon the submitted budget for
each proposal.
Funds may be used for stipends for literature review,
preliminary data collection, or writing, and (non-capital)
supplies needed to collect and analyze data. Funds may
not be used for capital equipment purchases. (Loans of
computers or other equipment may sometimes be arranged
through TIE.) Travel to conduct the research
is permitted in the budget, but separate requests for
travel to meetings and conferences should be sought through
the TIE travel grant mechanism. TIE expects
that the work completed with the fellowship will be part
of the student’s course of study (e.g., an internship,
applied learning experience, directed study, thesis or
dissertation research) and not otherwise possible without
TIE funding.
The TIE committee will select the best proposals, with
attention to equitable distribution of funds across schools.
Those who have not received previous TIE funding are especially
encouraged to apply.
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Submission
Requirements:
o All completed proposals must be delivered to the TIE
office no later than 9 am on Friday, March 14th, 2008.
Incomplete and late submissions will not be considered.
o Application items (excluding résumés and
transcripts) are to be written in Times New Roman 12pt
font. Pages should be numbered and single-spaced, with
1-inch margins.
o Electronic submissions via email to tie@tufts.edu
are preferred.
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Contact
Information
Tufts
Institute of the Environment
Tufts University
210 Packard Avenue
Miller Hall
Medford, MA 02155
Tel:
617-627-3645
Fax: 617-627-6645
Email: tie@tufts.edu
